119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 7781

Parity for Tribal Educators Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

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House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, the Parity for Tribal Educators Act, aims to grant educators working in tribally controlled schools the same retirement benefits as federal employees. Specifically, it would allow these educators to participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and the Thrift Savings Plan. The bill ensures that the Bureau of Indian Affairs will cover the government contributions required for these benefits. Employees also have the option to decline these benefits if they choose.

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Legislative history

2026-03-03House

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

2026-03-03

Introduced in House

2026-03-03

Introduced in House

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Mar 3, 2026XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 2d Session

H. R. 7781

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To provide that employees of tribally controlled schools are eligible to receive a pension under the Federal Employees Retirement System and to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Parity for Tribal Educators Act

2.FERS pension and TSP eligibility for employees of tribally controlled schools

(a)FERS pension and TSP eligibility

(1)In general

A covered employee shall be deemed to be an employee (as that term is defined in section 8401 of title 5, United States Code) for purposes of subchapters II and III of chapter 84 of such title.

(2)Government contributions

The Bureau of Indian Affairs shall pay the Government contributions under sections 8423 and 8432 of such title for the purposes of carrying out paragraph (1).

(b)Opt outNotwithstanding subsection (a), a covered employee may, under procedures established by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, elect to not be covered under such subsection and not be deemed an employee (as that term is defined under such section 8401).

(c)Covered employee definedIn this section, the term covered employee means any employee of a tribally controlled school (as defined in section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2512)) that operates under—

(1)a contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); or

(2)a grant under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.).

HR 7781

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